Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2024 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. OF Joey Loperfido | 24 | AAA | 2024
A seventh round pick in 2021, Loperfido produced better than average lines at each step along the way until a difficult 32-game stint in Triple-A to close out the 2023 season. In the box, he’s a 6’3” 230 lb lefty with power. In the field, he’s a right-handed thrower with enough athleticism that he’s a real option in center field. In 84 games at Double-A, he slashed .296/.392/.548 with 19 home runs and 20 stolen bases. I’m pretty bullish on his chances to carve out a role for himself in center or a corner outfield spot or at first base.
2. OF Jacob Melton | 23 | AA | 2025
The 64th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Melton has liquified his minor league competition. In just 13 Double-A games at season’s end, he nuked five home runs and swiped five bags. In 86 High-A games, he hit 18 home runs and stole 41 bases. A left-handed batter at 6’3” 208 lbs, Melton hit well at Oregon State and hit well with wooden bats in the Western Canadian League as a 19-year-old and feels like a pretty safe bet to keep hitting in the majors. He’s also an easy plus runner. 30 steals is just a state of mind right now, and Melton has the right mindset.
3. OF Colin Barber | 23 | AA | 2025
Barber doesn’t cut the most impressive profile at 5’11” 200 lbs with mostly average tools across the board, but he’s right on time in the age-to-level math and should open in Triple-A after producing a 111 wRC+ with 11 home runs and five steals in 79 Double-A games. He’s also a patient left-handed hitter who doesn’t strike out a whole lot. Feels like the kind of player who generates a ho-hum around the game until he’s suddenly starting in every fantasy league a la Chas McCormick.
4. SS Brice Matthews | 22 | A | 2026
The 28th overall pick out of Nebraska in 2023, Matthews has a nice wooden-bat track record when he made a leap as a junior, slashing .359/.481/.723 with 20 home runs after hitting seven as a sophomore. He posted OBPs of .449 and .448 in his two stints in the wooden-bat Northwoods League and a .373 in 33 games at Low-A in 2023. He’s a better fit for that format than for 5×5 but should have the defense, speed and power and pedigree to remain the organization’s long-term plans even if the hit tool takes a while.
5. OF Luis Baez | 20 | A | 2027
An early season power surge on the complex put Baez on a lot of dynasty radars before he came back to earth a bit in Low-A but still produced a 108 wRC+ because he maintained a pretty patient approach. For the dynasty game, he features big power upside with a long road ahead and a so-far shaky hit tool.
6. 3B Zach Dezenzo | 23 | AA | 2025
A powerful right-handed hitter at 6’4” 220 lbs, Dezenzo moves well on the dirt for an infielder his size. He was a four-year starter at Ohio State who slugged .701 as a senior after slugging .732 with wooden bats in the MLB Draft League. This is a theme for Houston, who likes to see a little success sans aluminum and has reaped some middle-round rewards in the process. Dezenzo was a 12th round pick in 2022 and is already knocking at the majors after slashing .305/.383/.531 with 18 home runs and 22 steals in 94 games across two levels in 2023.
7. RHP Rhett Kouba | 24 | AAA | 2024
Kouba is 6’0″ 180 lbs and doesn’t throw especially hard but has exceptional command of a plus slider that’s allowed him to cruise through the system. A 12th round pick in the 2021 draft, he posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 128 innings across two levels in 2023, so even though he’s got real bullpen risk given the velocity, he enters 2024 with lot of innings to offer and a chance to help the major league team at some point.
8. RHP Spencer Arrighetti | 24 | AAA | 2024
Arrighetti has added velocity since Houston selected him out of Louisiana Lafayette in the 6th round of the 2021 draft. He had his best stuff yet in 2023, sitting in the mid 90s and getting better results from his off-speed mix of curve, slider, changeup. His 4.64 ERA in 64 Triple-A innings doesn’t scream fantasy stalwart, but that’s a hitter-friendly league, and it’s tough to go broke betting on Houston’s pitching development team, particularly when the cost is low.
9. OF Zach Daniels | 25 | AA | 2024
Daniels turned 25 this week, so he’s aged like wine or cheese for the level. He’s not here for the high probability that he becomes a big leaguer, but it’s tough to leave him off any fantasy list because he’s a player we should all be tracking to some extent. He’s 6’1” 220 lbs but has something of a James Wood or Will Benson starter kit in the sense that he’s a powerful dude with easy speed. He struck out 31.3 percent of the time in 79 Double-A games but produced a 114 wRC+ with 13 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a slash line of .278/.348/.469. He went 23/22 in 95 High-A games in 2022. Just someone to keep an eye on.
10. SS Alberto Hernandez | CPX | 20 | 2027
Lotta names could go here. Kenedy Corona is maybe the most likely big leaguer given his plus defense in center. Pedro Leon has struggled across two seasons in Triple-A. Esmil Valencia and Camilo Diaz are high-upside lottery tickets with pedigree in the low minors. Hernandez represents a bridge between. He’s got defensive value as a high-probability shortstop. He’s got a stateside track record coming off a solid 40-game stretch in the complex league. And he’s got upside as a 6’0” 169 lb teenager (he turns 20 on February 2nd) with good plate skills, pedigree and projection remaining in his frame.
Thanks for reading!
